macknight



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

I 'J. W. MAOK'NIGHT. FIREIROOP GEILING AND FLOOR.

Patented June 4, 1895.

M M m 1' 1: annals PETERS co. momumo WASHINGTON. n. c.

(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. MACKNIGHT. FIRE'PROOE' 031mm ANDFLOOR.

"No. 540,451. Patented Jun 4, 1895.

Wzzesses NiTED ST TES; PATENT FFICE.

JOHN IV. MACKNIGHT, OF NEW. YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T O AWILD MAOKNIGHT, OF SAME PLACE.

FIREPROOF CEILING AND V FLOO'R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,451, dated June 4, 1895. Application filed March 9. 1895. Serial No. 541,126- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J OHN' W. MAOKNIGHT, of. New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Fireproof Ceiling and Floor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fire proof ceiling and fioor which is very light, of great strength and can be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figurel is a perspective view of my improved ceiling and floor, showing it partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail of the cable-wire netting. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 3,

Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a similar section on line-4t 4,

is sifted over the scaffolding B, and beneath the lower flange of the beams A to form a continuous surface. Upon the layer 0, I place a wire fabric D, the ends of which are slitted and are passed alternately above and below the lower flange of the I beams, to anchor the fabric. Upon the wire fabric D, is spread the upper layer E, of'the ceiling, composed of about one part of plaster of paris, one part saw dust and shavings and one part of coal ashes. For this layer however, other materials, such as Portland cement, Acme cement, rock plaster, adamant, crushed stones, crushed brick and sand may be used. The layer E, is applied in a plastic state so as to adhere to the wire fabric D, and outer layer 0, and will set so quickly that the construction of the floor can be at once proceeded with.

In forming the floor, I insertinto the ceiling This,

also utilized for the reception of pipes I, and

conduits J. Over the arches H, and over the beams A,I draw a cable wire netting K, which is bent around the upper flanges of the intermediate I beams and tied to the outside I beams. This netting is more fully shown in Fig. 2. Its cables are each composed of two or more intertwisted wires, which thus form a rough surface to which the cement will firmly adhere. Through the meshes of the fabric K, I pass theshanks of curved braces L, that are projected into the setting layer H, and rest upon the lower flanges of the I beams. These braces as well as the'anchors F, have for their object to support the hollow ceiling and to transfer in part its weight to the lower flanges of the I beams. After the braces L, have been placed, the arches H, are completed by filling the fire proof mixture in to a height sufficient to cover the upper flanges of the I beams together with the cable wire netting K, and the braces L. The upper surface of the layer H, thus formed constitutes the support for the wooden, cement or other flooring M,

which, when layed, completes the structure and permits the scaffold to be removed.

In Fig. 5 the bottom layers 0, D, and E, are dispensed with and the ceiling is formed by the arched lower surface of the flooring proper.

What I claim is 1. A fire proof ceiling and floor composed of I beams, a wire netting bent around the upper flanges of the beams, curved braces supported upon the lower flanges of said beams,

and a fire proof filling that incloses the netting and braces, substantially as specified.

2. 'Afire proof ceiling and floor composed of I beams, a wire netting, curved braces that pass with their shanks through the meshes of the netting and are supported upon the lower flanges of the I beams and of a fire proof filling that incloses the netting and braces,substantially as specified.

3. A fire proof ceiling and floor composed of I beams, an arched fire proof layer, a wire netting embedded therein, arched braces passing through the meshes of the netting, and anchors F, for supporting the ceiling, substan- 5 tiaily as specified.

4. A fire proof ceiling and floor composed of I beams, a pair of fire proof lower layers, an interposed wire netting, an arched upper layer, an upper wire netting, and curved braces that pass with their shanks through I0 the meshes of said upper netting, substantially as specified.

JOHN W. MACKNIGHT. Witnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, WILLIAM SoHULz. 

